Nandi Hills UDA MP aspirant dies in road accident
The late Wesley Kogo in one of his campaign meetings in Nandi Hills Constituency.
What you need to know:
- Kogo was a youth leader and active in social and political functions.
- In September 2021, he surprised Nandi Hills voters when he asked them to raise money and finance his campaigns so as to oust the incumbent MP Alfred Keter.
- Elders had mobilised Nandi Hills residents who raised Sh 1.6million to jumpstart Kogo’s campaigns.
Nandi Hills MP aspirant Wesley Kibet Kogo died in a road accident on Thursday morning.
The crash, involving a Classic Shuttle matatu and a bus on Waiyaki Way, near Kangemi, ended the 30-year-old man’s dreams of becoming the next Nandi Hills MP. He was eyeing the UDA ticket.
He was travelling in the public service vehicle from Nandi to Nairobi.
Nandi Hills Parliamentary aspirant the late Wesley Kibet Kogo who died in road accident in Kangemi, Nairobi on Thursday morning.
Born in a tea-growing belt, Kogo was a youth leader active in social and political functions.
In September 2021, he surprised Nandi Hills voters when he asked the public to raise money and finance his campaigns so as to oust the incumbent MP Alfred Keter.
Humble background
Kogo, who was jobless, hailed from a humble family in Kipchamo village, Nandi Hills. He was regarded as the community's son because locals raised money for his education.
He was determined to participate in this year’s General Election and represent Nandi Hills in the National Assembly, with villagers coming together to help raise over Sh1.6 million for his campaigns.
But his dreams ended in the road accident on Thursday morning.
Nandi Hills Deputy County Commissioner Leonard Mugute said locals were shocked when they received the news.
“I can confirm the Nandi Hills aspirant Wesley Kogo died in an accident that occurred in the Kangemi area near Nairobi and more details will be given out later,” he said.
Apart from Mr Keter, the outspoken two-term MP, Mr Kogo was to face several other aspirants, including Irene Chemutai and Nairobi businessman Robert Chepkwony, locally nicknamed 5050.
Mr Chepkwony and Mrs Chemuttai regretted Kogo’s death, coming just four months before the elections.
Elders mobilised campaign fundraiser
In September 2021, elders mobilised Nandi Hills residents to raise money and jumpstart Kogo’s campaigns.
He had assured his supporters that he would capture the seat, promising to address issues facing them.
"I knew all along that I had leadership qualities, but the call came too soon because I had just settled and wanted to focus on my career path after graduating from university,” he said, noting that locals had assured him of their support and urged him to join the race.
He expressed surprise when hundreds of locals turned up and generously contributed campaign funds.
“Villagers had brought agricultural produce and money as a show of trust and belief in me and it was really amazing," he said then, at the end of the function held at the Keben Gardens in Nandi Hills that netted a whooping Sh1.6 million in cash.
Struggled with school fees
After scoring 386 marks in the 2006 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE), Kogo could not afford to proceed to Friends School Kamusinga in Western Kenya after receiving an admission letter.
He instead enrolled at a local school that was affordable and closer to his parents.
Kogo explained that he went to Samoei Boys High School in Nandi Hills because tuition costs there were lower and he was allowed to pay in instalments. He completed Form Four in 2011 and scored an A-minus.
He then proceeded to the University of Eldoret, where he studied applied statistics and computing, graduating in 2015.
Kogo said he spent two years looking for a job.
He was hired by the Board of Management as a teacher at Taboyat Secondary School in Nandi Hills, keen to give back to the community that had helped him pay for part of his education.
